Yet even though City, who host Leicester on Monday, have the less congested run-in, Guardiola expects Liverpool will still be in contention going into the final round of Premier League matches a week on Sunday.

And he is convinced that Liverpool will not allow their setback in the Nou Camp to affect them.

He said: “I don’t think so. The game on Wednesday was incredibly good. Liverpool were outstanding. Both teams were incredible. It was an incredible game. I enjoyed watching it.

“I don’t think it will affect them, they fought a lot for this season, I think it’s going to the other [final] game. I think it will be not easy at Newcastle but they’ll be well prepared to win there.”

City face a Leicester team who have won six out of nine league matches since Brendan Rodgers was confirmed as their manager on February 26.

Rodgers managed a Celtic side who secured two draws against Guardiola’s City in the Champions League group stages in 2016. For that reason, Guardiola is wary of the challenge Leicester are likely to pose.

He said: “I think Brendan has shown his quality as a manager. In just two months, they are already playing the way he wants to play.

“Everyone knows their position, their movements are well coordinated, and they have incredible quality with Youri Tielemans and James Maddison, and with the people in front with Harvey Barnes, Demarai Gray and Marc Albrighton. They are so fast.”

Competitive nature

Leicester’s realistic chances of finishing seventh will be significantly lower if Wolves were to beat relegated Fulham on Saturday.

But even if Rodgers’ side arrive in Manchester will little to play for, Guardiola has dismissed the idea that they will switch off.

“That’s not going to happen,” he said. “The manager and the players want to put it a good performance. The question makes no sense, sorry, forget about it.

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